Low pH

jgranata13 · 02/09/2015, 02:33 PM

I have a 37gal FOWLR system with CaribSea ReefSaver rock and Instant Ocean salt (the regular one; not the reef formulation) and my pH is constantly just below 8. I was under the impression that between the salt mix and the rocks, the water would naturally be around 8.2-8.4. Am I missing something? My alkalinity is always 4meq/L (using the Seachem test), which I think translates to around 10 or 11 on the dH scale.

LittleBeard · 02/09/2015, 02:43 PM

Here's a useful article.
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/

I would suspect inadequate aeration as the reason for lower ph, but without knowing more details I can't really say.
Do you have a skimmer?

downbeach · 02/09/2015, 02:43 PM

Normal for this time of year. Caused by elevated levels of CO2 in the household atmosphere.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/index.php

jgranata13 · 02/09/2015, 02:49 PM

Thanks for your replies. I actually found that article a few months ago and suspected the same. I don't have a skimmer, but I have a Koralia 425 agitating the surface and an AC50 that I use for chemical media. To test whether that was the cause, I took off the lid of the tank, put a huge airstone in, had a fan blowing over the surface, and opened all windows in the room. After three days nothing changed. I also tried limiting gas exchange by turning off the Koralia and nothing happened. And this is a year round issue. Could it be anything else?

ReefsandGeeks · 02/09/2015, 04:32 PM

a pH of just below 8 isn't a problem at all. as long as it isn't way off, and your alk is good your tank is in good shape. pH is arguably one of the least important peramiters in a reef saltwater tank. I'd only suspect a problem if it were say 7.6 or lower, in which case I'd also suspect lack of air exchange. The way I see it is you don't have a problem. I don't even check pH anymore unless I'm trouble shooting something and am reaching for a cause.

02/09/2015, 02:33 PM	#1
jgranata13 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 129	Low pH I have a 37gal FOWLR system with CaribSea ReefSaver rock and Instant Ocean salt (the regular one; not the reef formulation) and my pH is constantly just below 8. I was under the impression that between the salt mix and the rocks, the water would naturally be around 8.2-8.4. Am I missing something? My alkalinity is always 4meq/L (using the Seachem test), which I think translates to around 10 or 11 on the dH scale. __________________ Joseph G Current Tank Info: 56 gal Reef - http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=25179989#post25179989

02/09/2015, 02:49 PM	#4
jgranata13 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 129	Thanks for your replies. I actually found that article a few months ago and suspected the same. I don't have a skimmer, but I have a Koralia 425 agitating the surface and an AC50 that I use for chemical media. To test whether that was the cause, I took off the lid of the tank, put a huge airstone in, had a fan blowing over the surface, and opened all windows in the room. After three days nothing changed. I also tried limiting gas exchange by turning off the Koralia and nothing happened. And this is a year round issue. Could it be anything else? __________________ Joseph G Current Tank Info: 56 gal Reef - http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=25179989#post25179989

02/09/2015, 02:43 PM	#2
LittleBeard Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: FL Posts: 83	Here's a useful article. http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/ I would suspect inadequate aeration as the reason for lower ph, but without knowing more details I can't really say. Do you have a skimmer?

02/09/2015, 02:43 PM	#3
downbeach Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Smyrna, Delaware Posts: 3,767	Normal for this time of year. Caused by elevated levels of CO2 in the household atmosphere. http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/index.php

02/09/2015, 04:32 PM	#5
ReefsandGeeks Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,708	a pH of just below 8 isn't a problem at all. as long as it isn't way off, and your alk is good your tank is in good shape. pH is arguably one of the least important peramiters in a reef saltwater tank. I'd only suspect a problem if it were say 7.6 or lower, in which case I'd also suspect lack of air exchange. The way I see it is you don't have a problem. I don't even check pH anymore unless I'm trouble shooting something and am reaching for a cause.